Medicare beneficiaries will pay lower Part B premiums for coverage come 2023. Those who are paying these premiums need to be aware of two major changes.

For this upcoming year, the premium for Part B will decrease by 3% to $164.90. The annual deductible will also decrease from $233 to $226 for 2023.

Sometimes people do not know they are paying their Part B premiums because when you elect to enroll in Medicare, your premiums come directly out of your Social Security benefits.

Moreover, since CMS regulates Medicare Part D, even though the prescription coverage is sold by private insurances, there is a good chance that many will see a general decrease in Part D premiums, too. Unfortunately, since the private insurers set the terms and limits of these policies, there is not set amount for the decrease like Part B has. CMS is predicted that an almost 2% decrease may happen for Part D. If there is a change to your plan, you will receive a statement in the mail notifying you. If you do not receive any statement, please call your insurance directly or check online.

Lastly, another major change CMS announced were changes to income brackets and rates for the premium surtax for Medicare. This surtax is known as income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). This is in addition for higher income beneficiaries to the Part B base premium of $164.90 everyone pays. This also is an addition to Part D premiums for higher income beneficiaries.

This surtax is imposed on modified adjusted gross incomes starting at $97,000 for a single person and $194,000 for married couples who file a joint return and maxes out at $500,000 of MAGI for a single person and $750,000 for a married couple fling a joint return.  The maximum Part B premium if you hit the top income limits would be $560.50. For Part D the imposed surtax would be an additional maximum of $76.40. It is important to note that the highest bracket ($500,000/$750,000) discussed here is not adjusted for inflation, but the lower brackets are. So over time, more and more people will be moved into the top bracket and will pay the higher Medicare Part B premiums due to inflation.